Idaho Department of Environmental Quality | Ponderay Bay Trail Smelter Remediation

The Ponderay Bay Trail is a heavily used community corridor connecting the cities of Sandpoint and Ponderay along the shoreline of Lake Pend Oreille. Decades of smelting, refining, and lumber operations left portions of the corridor impacted by environmental contamination, creating potential risks for trail users and limiting opportunities for safe public access and future redevelopment. Working under an EPA Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant led by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ), WSB’s team played a key role in assessing and planning for the cleanup of contaminated properties along the corridor. A primary focus was the former Panhandle Smelting and Refining Company (PSRC) site, a historic lead and silver smelter that left behind elevated concentrations of lead and other metals in soil. The team completed Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, a site-specific human health risk assessment, quality assurance and health and safety plans, and the development of cleanup alternatives and cost estimates. WSB’s team also partnered with IDEQ and local stakeholders to create a GIS database and public information portal, collect corridor-wide topographic data, and develop conceptual redevelopment plans to support future trail planning and community outreach. The project’s environmental assessments and planning efforts established the foundation for future cleanup and redevelopment, helping local agencies advance a shared vision of a safer, more accessible shoreline trail that enhances recreation, connectivity, and public access to Lake Pend Oreille.